Before the Trojan War: Tales of the Greek Heroes

Tales of the Greek Heroes

by Roger Lancelyn Green

Roger Lancelyn Green is a master storyteller. I recently read his Tales of Ancient Egypt and was thrilled when someone posted Tales of the Greek Heroes on PaperBackSwap.com.

There are plenty of books of Greek myths and heroes, of course, but Green's book does something a bit different. He attempts to weave the disparate tales into a single whole, mingling stories and ordering events as they might have happened in a mythical chronological order.

Before each chapter, Green includes an excerpt from a poem about or inspired by the subject. Some of them are translations of ancient works and some are modern references. It's a wonderful way to subtly imply the vast reverberations of the Greek myths through time and literature as well as introduce some excellent bits of literature.

I was not intending to use this book for our history studies, but it is included in RC History's Connecting with History Volume 1. Rather than rewrite our lesson plans, I've just added it to the optional supplemental reading lists for First Daughter (7th grade) and Second Daughter (5th grade).

I think you could also substitute it for the Greek myth book recommended by Mater Amabilis™ for Level 1A, Classic Myths to Read Aloud. I love that book, but some people find the stories long and these may be a bit shorter. It can also be frustrating if children are confused by the inexplicable switching from Greek to Roman names in Classic Myths to Read Aloud. Green's book uses only Greek names. There is a list in the back showing the Latin name for each Greek one.

Green doesn't include the tales of the Trojan War or of the Odyssey; he has other books for those.

I have the hardcover of the Puffin Classics edition and it's lovely.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post which includes only my honest opinion. Links to Amazon, RC History, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Following Odysseus: The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fitzgerald

As I mentioned in my post on The Iliad, First Son and I read this along with Elizabeth Vandiver's The Odyssey of Homer as part of his honors level ninth grade English course, expanded from the suggested epics in the Mater Amabilis™ beta high school plans available in the Facebook group.

I purchased this course during a sale last summer. I also managed to find an audiobook of the same translation as First Son's. I had considered letting First Son listen to it, but he seemed to be doing fine with just the book. Instead, I listened to it. The narrator read slowly, but it was a great way for me to keep up with the reading while folding laundry and washing dishes. One disadvantage of the audiobook is that I don't have any selections to copy into my commonplace book. You can tag places with the audiobook, but I'm usually not where I can tap the screen at the right time so I don't usually bother.

As with The Iliad, Vandiver's course provides a wealth of background and cultural context in addition to a richness in discussions of translations and themes. There are definitely mature themes in The Odyssey which are sometimes made more explicit in the lectures. As First Son is in high school, I didn't find it inappropriate, but I would not have listened to the lectures with our younger children.

The Schedule

Week 1
1 - Book 1
2 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 1
3 - Book 2

Week 2
1 - Book 3
2 - Book 4
3 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 2

Week 3
1 - Book 5
2 - Book 6
3 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 3

Week 4
1 - Book 7
2 - Book 8
3 - Book 9

Week 5
1 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 4
2 - Book 10
3 - Book 11 lines 1-375 (stop on p 187 after "there I also a time for sleep.")

Week 6
1 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 5
2 - Book 11 lines 375-end
3 - Book 12

Week 7
1 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 6
2 - Quiz on first 12 books and 6 lectures
3 - Book 13

Week 8
1 - Book 14
2 - Book 15
3 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 7

Week 9
1 - Book 16
2 - Book 17
3 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 8

Week 10
1 - Book 18
2 - Book 19
3 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 9

Week 11
1 - Book 20
2 - Book 21
3 - Book 22

Week 12
1 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 10
2 - Book 23
3 - Book 24

Week 13
1 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 11
2 - Great Courses: The Odyssey of Homer Lecture 12

3 - Quiz on the second half of the Odyssey

The Quizzes

Quiz 1

10 points each

1. What is xenia?
2. Where have you seen xenia practiced well in The Odyssey so far? How so?
3. Where have you seen xenia practiced poorly in The Odyssey so far? How so?
4. Describe what is happening on Ithaca as The Odyssey begins. Give three examples of ways the kingdom is suffering because of his absence.
5. Consider the implications of Odysseus’s refusal to accept Kalypso’s offer of immortality. What does this refusal imply about Odysseus’s view of what it means to be human, as compared to Achilles in The Illiad?
6. How do the songs of the bard of the Phaiakians, Demodokos, affect Odysseus?
7. Do you think Odyssus’s telling Polyphemos his name is an instance of reckless pride, or is he justified in doing so? Why so?
8. Compare and contrast Kalypso and Circe and the relationship between each of them and Odysseus.
9. What happens to all of Odysseus’s companions? Do you think Odysseus is responsible for their fates?
10. Give one example of Odysseus’s skill in rhetoric, in choosing his words and story to his audience.

Quiz 2

10 points each

1. How does Odysseus arrive back on Ithaka?
2. What disguise does Odysseus use on Ithaka? Describe how this disguise is perfect for his needs.
3. Who is Eumaios? How does he show Odysseus xenia?
4. Odysseus lies about who he is to Athena, and again to Eumaios. What do you make of his willingness to resort to lies as soon as he is back on Ithaka? Does it have any significance for our understanding of Odyssesus’s character in the first half of the Odyssey?
5. Describe the first meeting of Telemakhos and Odysseus in the swineherd’s hut. What happens after Eumaios leaves?
6. Describe the first meeting of Penelope and Odysseus.
7. Do you think Penelope knows this beggar is Odysseus? Use what you know of the text to defend your position.
8. How does Odysseus reveal himself to the suitors? What does he do to resolve the situation?
9. Describe the meeting between Penelope and Odysseus after the palace has been cleansed.
10. Did the Trojan War actually happen? Do you think it matters for our appreciation of The Iliad and The Odyssey? Defend your position. 

I received nothing for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I purchased the Audible course and the audiobook, but The Odyssey was already on our bookshelf.

Understanding Achilles: The Iliad

The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles

The Mater Amabilis™ high school plans (currently available in beta version in the high school facebook group) proposes an ambitious series for Level 5 Year 1 (ninth grade) epics: The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid. To prepare myself to "teach" them, I ordered a few Great Courses by Elizabeth Vandiver from Audible including The Iliad of Homer. After listening to the first few lectures, I rearranged our schedule so First Son could listen to them as well.

The lectures provide background material and context for the book. A few at the beginning of the course covered general background material including the all-important Why should we continue to read and study the Greek classics?. In The Iliad of Homer, she explains and elaborates on the concepts of time (honor) and kleos (fame or glory). While I had never read The Iliad in its entirety, I was familiar with the story. Listening to the lectures gave me an understanding of Achilles and his actions that reframed the entire epic for me. (That's the lecture that convinced me First Son needed to listen as well.)

Dr. Vandiver also provides translation commentary that brings out the poetic allusions to the text that are missed when only reading it in translation. I appreciated how often she reiterated how much more there is to learn about the epics.

First Son loved listening to the lectures. While part of that love was because he was able to build with LEGOs while listening, he also found them fascinating in their own right and a relaxing break from the reading itself. I asked him to read or listen and narrate each lesson. He did a marvelous job narrating the lectures.

The supplemental materials (available as a PDF if you purchase the course from Audible) include an outline of each lecture, suggestions for further reading, and questions to consider. The outline and suggested questions were invaluable as I wrote quizzes for each epic, though many would not be appropriate if your student didn't also listen to the lectures.

First Son does not have access to my Audible account on his Kindle. I didn't want him wandering around with my smartphone which has access to the internet. We have a filter and I don't have any games on the phone, so mostly I was afraid it would be distracting. I use bluetooth earbuds when I'm listening to audiobooks but I didn't want to share them so we purchased these iJoy headphones for First Son and he leaves the phone on the counter. These are actually much nicer than mine and automatically connect to the phone. I had thought any of the kids could use them, but First Daughter (age 12) tells me they are a little uncomfortable for her because even at their smallest setting they are too big. First Son, being 15 and over six feet tall, doesn't have that problem.

I would assign First Son the books to read in The Iliad, then have him listen to the corresponding lecture. In order to make each lesson manageable, I scheduled Epics three times a week and assigned only one book or one lecture each lesson.

When combined with our study of one Shakespeare play each term, the course load for English earned an Honors designation. I think another option would be to read The Iliad and The Aeneid without the lectures, but include them for The Odyssey. Though the first two lecture series on The Iliad and The Odyssey are designed to go together, you would still get a lot of background material and richness from what I think is the most important book of the three.

A note on the translation for The Iliad: First Son and I read the Robert Fagles translation shown above because that is the one Kansas Dad had purchased for a college course. I can't remember which one Dr. Vandiver quotes from within the lectures, but it's not necessary to chose the same one.

The Schedule

Week 1
1 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 1
2 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 2
3 - Book 1

Week 2
1 - Book 2
2 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 3
3 - Book 3

Week 3
1 - Book 4
2 - Book 5
3 - Book 6

Week 4
1 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 4
2 - Book 7
3 - Book 8

Week 5
1 - Book 9
2 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 5
3 - Book 10

Week 6
1 - Book 11
2 - Book 12

3 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 6 (quiz next week)

Week 7

1 - quiz on first 12 books and 6 lectures

2 - Book 13

3 - Book 14

Week 8

1 - Book 15

2 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 7

3 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 8

Week 9

1 - Book 16

2 - Book 17

3 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 9

Week 10

1 - Book 18

2 - Book 19

3 - Book 20

Week 11

1 - Book 21

2 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 10

3 - Book 22

Week 12

1 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 11

2 - Book 23

3 - Book 24

Week 13

1 - Great Courses: The Iliad of Homer Lecture 12

2 - quiz on the second half of The Iliad and last six lectures

It takes a bit more than a term each to get through The Iliad and The Odyssey when incorporating the lectures, but The Aeneid is shorter so does not need an entire term.

The Quizzes

Quiz 1

10 points each

1. What do you know about Homer?
2. Define kleos (fame/glory) and timê (honor) as they were for the ancient Greeks.
3. Why are the Greeks besieging Troy?
4. Who is Agamemnon? Tell everything you know about him.
5. Why does Achilles initially recuse himself from battle?
6. Tell about the embassy to Achilles (who they are, what they say, how Achilles responds).
7. Who is Hector? Tell everything you know about him.

Quiz 2

1. How are the Homeric gods different from the modern Christian understanding of God? (12 points)
2. Describe how Patroclus convinces Achilles to let him rejoin the battle. What arguments does he make? (8 points)
3. Patroclus kills Sarpedon, the son of Zeus. How does what happens to his body prefigure the deaths of Patroclus and Hector? (What is the same about them?) (12 points)
4. What happens to Achilles when he learns of Patroclus’s death? (8 points)
5. Describe the new armor of Achilles. (8 points)
6. Contrast Achilles and Hector, describing at least two ways they are different from each other. (12 points)
7. Tell about the conference between Priam and Achilles. How does it come about? How do they behave and speak to each other? (8 points)
8. Pretend you are talking to a friend and want to convince him or her to read the Iliad. What would you say? Mention specific ideas or events from the poem. (12 points)

I received nothing for this post and all opinions are my own. Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I purchased the Audible course and the headphones, but The Iliad was already on our bookshelf.

Haliburton Again!: The Glorious Adventure

The Glorious Adventure

by Richard Halliburton

We read the Book of Marvels by Richard Halliburton in Level 3 (year 1 and year 2) and enjoyed them immensely. In this book, he follows the path of Odysseus to the Trojan War and home again. The escapades are often irreverent, frequently involve alcohol (and at least one encounter with drugs), and approximate the geography of the Odyssey. But it's thoroughly fun!

At one point, Halliburton tries to run the original marathon, tracing the route of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens. Overwhelmed by thirst, he requests wine from a local bartender.

Glass after glass was emptied. In fact so much wine disappeared that when I sought the road again it reeled about in the most amazing manner. I had to hold tight to keep from being thrown by it. Running was too redic'lous. I felt so jolly, just rolling along and stopping to tell everybody in English that everyshing was all right, since the Pershuns were in wild flight.

And so on. I found it amusing, but it probably would be unwise for teens to subsist on a constant literary diet of Halliburton who engages in plenty of drinking and smoking in the midst of his sometimes ill-advised adventures.

He writes eloquently of Troy.

Its fame is imperishable; its romance is inexhaustible. To our own far-away new world its great name has echoed, and I, for one, am proud to have answered its calling, to have lain atop the crumbling battlements in the twilight with the wind whimpering fretfully through the grass-grown ruins, and with the ghosts of Priam and Hecuba, Helen and Andromache drifting beside me, as each night they mount to the Scaean Tower to watch, with hollow anguished eyes, the ghostly horses of the ghostly Achilles dragging Hector’s shadowy body before the silent, sleeping, sorrow-laden mound that once was Troy.

In search of Stromboli (keeper of winds), Halliburton hires a boat to take him out in the night to gaze on the erupting volcano.

Every twelve minutes the white hot bubbling lava was shot upward into the black night amid great fountains of sparks that illuminated heaven and earth with their blazing. Then the flaming geyser would fall back on to the slope, and in waves upon waves of molten rock ripple glitteringly two thousand feet down to the hissing sea. The more solid masses not rolled, but leaped, in a few wild bouncing plunges, leaving a trail of sky-rockets and little meteors behind them, and fell thundering into the water. The crater boomed unceasingly, the terrace flashed and flamed. For ten eruptions – two hours – we sat in our boat, a hundred yards offshore, and marveled each time the more at this brilliant, blazing waterfall of fire.

Then, of course, they climbed it, despite protestations from all the people in the town at its foot.

Finally, “home in Ithaca,” he sits and imagines the confrontation between Odysseus and the suitors playing out before him as if he were seated in a balcony above Odysseus’s hall.

The last scene of Homer’s epic poem has been played, the last page read. I close the book regretfully, and turn my eyes from the precious little volume to the sunset which, viewed through the shining olive trees on Ulysses’ castle site, is enflaming the western sea. Never had I know a sky to be so radiant, so gold,--a glorious end of a glorious day and of an immortal story. On such a scarlet sky as this, three thousand years ago, Ulysses and Penelope, reunited, had watched the darkness creep.

Over and over, he convinces his companions to follow him in ludicrous adventures. They climb mountains, swim in the Blue Lagoon, hike to a mountain cave and tell outrageous and blatant lies to each other while pretending to be island maiden and Odysseus. Yet it all seems full of delight in the myth and epic, reveling in the brilliant blues of the Mediterranean.

First Son is reading this book in Level 5, Year 1, ninth grade, following the beta Mater Amabilis™ plans found in the Facebook group. He's also reading both The Iliad and The Odyssey. Halliburton's book could not be an accurate retracing of Odysseus's journey, but it is the journey of a young man who appreciates the beauty and lasting fascination of the epic, and reveals some of that enduring legacy to the reader.

I received nothing in exchange for writing this review. All opinions are my own. I purchased this book used. Links above to Amazon are affiliate links.

Greek Myths, Illustrated: D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

Mater Amabilis™Level 1A recommends Classic Myths to Read Aloud in Level 1A (second and third grade) and we loved it. But after reading it aloud for the first two children, I was ready for a change. So Second Daughter and I read Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire instead.

We had already listened to the audiobook from our library, which is wonderful and a book even Kansas Dad enjoyed hearing. The book we also had on the shelves, a gift from dear friends of ours many years ago.

In the first year, second grade, I read the stories aloud to Second Daughter. In the second year, third grade, I started out reading them aloud, but she asked if she could read them independently and then narrate them. The disadvantage of independent reading is that many of the names are difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to remember. So I would usually try to model the name for her during her narration if not before her reading. (I also learned from the audiobook that there are multiple acceptable pronunciations for many of the names.)

These stories are exciting and entertaining. They are wonderfully illustrated, of course, in the d'Aulaire style you might recognize from one of their many books. Many incidents in the Greek myths are not appropriate for young ears, but the d'Aulaires manage to phrase them in a general and circumspect manner that makes them acceptable for all ages.

For those that are interested, I'll post our schedule. It's easy to spread the stories over the two years leaving plenty of extra time for breaks during Advent or for important things like trips to the zoo.

Year One (second grade), reading once a week:

• In Olden Times and Gaea pp 9-11
• The Titans pp 12-15
• Zeus and His Family pp 16-23
• Hera pp 24-27
• Hephaestus pp 28-29
• Aphrodite pp 30-31
• Ares pp 32-33
• Athena pp 34-37
• Poseidon pp 38-39
• Poseidon cont pp 40-43
• Apollo pp 42-43
• Artemis pp 44-49
• Hermes pp 50-55
• Hades pp 56-57
• Persephone and Demeter pp 58-63
• Dionysus pp 64-69
• Minor Gods and Prometheus pp 70-73
• Pandora pp 74-75
• Deucalion pp 76-79
• Eos pp 80-81
• Helios and Phaethon pp 82-85

Year Two (third grade), reading once a week:

• Selene pp 86-89
• Pan pp 90-91
• Echo pp 92-93
• Syrinx pp 94-95
• The Wild and Vulgar Centaurs and Asclepius pp 96-99
• The Nine Muses pp 100-101
• Orpheus pp 102-107
• Europa and Cadmus pp 108-111
• Tantalus and Pelops pp 112-113
• Danaus, Perseus, and the Gorgon pp 114-122
• King Midas pp 123-125
• Sisyphus pp 126-127
• Bellerophon pp 128-129
• Melampus pp 130-131
• Heracles pp 132-139 (stop before 11th labor)
• Heracles pp 139-147
• Theseus pp 148-157
• Oedipus pp 158-161
• The Golden Fleece pp 162-166 (stop before "The Black Sea was a dangerous…"
• The Golden Fleece pp 166-175
• The Calydonian Boar Hunt p 176-177
• The Apples of Love and the Apple of Discord p 178-184
• To the End p 186-189

I have never really done exams with the kids, but inspired by Know and Tell, which I had recently read, I asked Second Daughter to tell me her favorite Greek myth at the end of this book and she beautifully narrated more than one of them. It was one of those moments when you think perhaps this homeschooling thing will work out alright after all.

I wouldn't say this book of Greek myths is better than Classic Myths to Read Aloud, but if you happen to have it on your shelves it can make an excellent substitute.

I received nothing for writing this post which contains only my honest opinions. I purchased a used copy of Classic Myths to Read Aloud and we received the d'Aulaire book as a gift. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.

November and December 2017 Book Reports

Beorn the Proud by Madeleine Pollard - link to my post (purchased copy). Also available from Amazon.

History's Greatest Voyages of Exploration (Great Courses) by Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius - link to my post (purchased with an Audible credit)

The Century for Young People by Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster - link to my post (purchased used copy)

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild - link to my post (library copy)

Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern Economy by Tim Harford - link to my post (library copy)

The Curious Nature Guide: Explore the Natural Wonders all Around You by Clare Walker Leslie - link to my post (library copy)

O Christmas Three by O. Henry, Tolstoy, and Dickens - This book was my book club's selection for December: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, Where Love Is, There God Is Also by Tolstoy, and The Seven Poor Travellers by Charles Dickens. Two of the stories were new to me, at least in their unabridged forms. The Tolstoy story was by far my favorite. It's a nicely printed hardcover book. (purchased used on Amazon)

Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time by Frank Cottrell Boyce - This is the second book of a continuation trilogy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It's light-hearted and silly and the children enjoyed it immensely. Dr Who (David Tennant) narrates it and does a wonderful job. (purchased from Audible during a sale)

Mr Bliss by J.R.R. Tolkien - I selected this to listen to along with Kansas Dad because I thought Tolkien would be enjoyable for all but I wanted something less silly as a break before we had the last book of the Chitty trilogy. I failed, because this is one of the silliest stories we have ever heard. This children thought it perfectly hilarious. (purchased from Audible during a sale)

Fire on the Track by Roseanne Montillo - link to my post (review copy from Blogging for Books)

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - link to my post (purchased used copy).

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff - This was a perfect book to listen to with Kansas Dad. The story of the Iliad is magnificently told for younger listeners. It includes a few events we hadn't heard in other retellings and (as my children pointed out repeatedly) plenty of violence and gore. It was the Trojan War, after all. I didn't think it was too violent for my youngest at seven, but you might want to pre-listen or pre-read if you are unsure. (purchased from Audible during a sale)

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery - Oh how I loved re-reading this book! (my very old used copy, purchased by my father decades ago)


Books in Progress (and date started) 

• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014) 
• A Century of Sonnets edited by Feldman and Robinson (May 2017) 
• The Complete Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (July 2017), listening with the kids 
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (July 2017), listening on my own 
• The Power of Silence by Robert Cardinal Sarah (December 2017) 
• Tremendous Trifles by G.K. Chesterton (December 2017) 

The italic print: Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). Try Audible - another affiliate link.

Links to RC History and PaperBackSwap.com are affiliate links. Other links (like those to Bethlehem Books) are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

The Beauty of Geometry: String, Straight-Edge, and Shadow

String, Straight-Edge, and Shadow: The Story of Geometry by Julia E. Diggins, illustrated by Corydon Bell

I can't remember where I purchased this book, but I'm linking to RC History because it's presence on the syllabus for Connecting with History Volume 1 is the reason I purchased it and I am entirely grateful. Through the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece, it tells a story of discovery, the discovery of the eternal truths of geometry.

We began this book last year, when First Son was in fifth grade. I would read the selections to him and then he would narrate it back to me. This year, in sixth grade, I asked him to read it independently and then narrate it. Some of the chapters, ones that deal specifically with theorems more than story, are a bit more challenging, but worth the effort.

In the chapter The Golden Age and the Golden Mean, the author writes of the rise of Athens under Pericles.

High on the hill of the Acropolis rose new marble temples and bronze and painted statues. Crowds thronged the vast new open-air theater nearby, to hear immortal tragedies and comedies by the greatest Greek playwrights. These splendid public works were completed under the direction of the sculptor Phidias and several architects, all of whom knew and used the principles of geometry and optics. "Success in art," they insisted, "is achieved by meticulous accuracy in a multitude of mathematical proportions." And their buildings had a dazzling perfection never seen before--the beauty of calculated geometric harmony.

This is not just a book that teaches geometry. This is not just a book that lists off the names of important men and their achievements. This is a book written by someone who appreciates the intrinsic beauty of geometry and skillfully shares that appreciation with the reader.

But working on what may seem useless has frequently been the task of mathematicians, and such tasks, pursued with care, patience, and persistence, have led to most useful results. A whole book could be written about useful results from useless problems.

Kansas Dad taught a class on theology and mathematics a few years ago and agreed whole-heartedly with the above quote. Over and over, he says, investigations into pure mathematics have revealed insights that have clear and immediate real-world applications.

The book reaches its end and its pinnacle in discussing Euclid's Elements.

It was as though Thales and the Pythagoreans had quarried great marble slabs from nature, and through the centuries that followed many minds had carved and polished each piece until at last the whole was put together by Euclid into a simple and perfect structure as lovely as any Greek temple.

Excellently written. Clearly and attractively illustrated. A fantastic addition to our homeschool and a book I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Links to RC History are affiliate links. 

July 2013 Book Reports

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon is a novel written from the perspective of a fifteen year old autistic boy. I don't know how accurate it is in depicting an autistic person, but there is a paragraph early in the book that sounded exactly like a young autistic I know. It is an interesting and different narrative form for a novel. This is a quick read and I enjoyed it, but I always find myself saddened by "regular" people in novels who do horrible things, as if that's just how life is now. (started at a friend's house, finished with a library copy)

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy is the sequel to The Hero's Gide to Saving Your Kingdom, which I read last month. It's just as enjoyable and in some ways has a little more depth. More books are in store and I intend to read them all! First Son enjoyed the first one, laughing out loud sometimes as he was reading it. He'll read this one, too. (library copy)

Destination: Bethlehem by Sharon R. Altman follows two cousins who independently develop relationships with the Holy Family in the months leading up to the Nativity. The 24 chapters are meant to be read on the 24 days in December before Christmas as an Advent activity. I found the story to be adequate despite my higher hopes for it, though there is some usefulness is providing the historical information for children. I'm not sure if we'll read this book during Advent. I may ask First Son (who will be in fourth grade) to read it independently. I don't think it would be bad to read; I'm just not sure it would be better than other books I've already planned. (received as a gift)

The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke is a science fiction story based in the far future, when Earth has sent seed ships to the far reaches of the galaxy to avoid the elimination of mankind when the destruction of Earth was assured. A spaceship from Earth arrives at a thriving colony. It was fun to read and interesting to ponder, though it's probably not surprising that Clarke and I differ on many opinions. (Kindle edition borrowed from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library)

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (PaperBackSwap.com)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is so enjoyable! I can't believe I had never read it. At first I was going to ask First Son to read it independently, but I think instead I'll read it aloud to the whole family next year. (Kindle edition, though we received a real copy as a gift)

Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker (purchased copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

Impressionism: 50 Paintings You Should Know by Ines Janet Engelmann gives a summary of Impressionism and then presents fifty paintings in chronological order with brief descriptions of the painting or the painter for each one. At the top is a timeline that extends throughout the book. I enjoyed this book and felt like it gave a nice overview of the subject and some important paintings, helping me to prepare for our picture study in the upcoming year; we'll be studying Renoir, Degas, and Monet. (library copy)

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate was a pre-read for First Son. It's the tale of Ivan, a gorilla living in a small cage at a mall zoo until a tiny new inmate prompts him to change. It seems to be written at a pretty easy level with lots of very short chapters that will be inviting to weak readers, but the character growth and topics (animal cruelty and zoos) are appropriate for older readers. First Son may be a little young for a few of those lessons (at nine), but there's nothing here he can't read. It's a great tale of compassion, bravery, hope, and understanding. (library copy)

Prayer (a review for The Catholic Company)

Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home by Elizabeth Foss (received as a gift)

Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark and Caleb's Story by Patricia Maclachlan is the trilogy of the beginning of a family, when Anna's father puts an ad in a newspaper for a wife, answered by Sarah. Shockingly, I had never read these books. The first is my favorite, with beautiful and halting descriptions of Anna's hopes and fears. The last is a good story of forgiveness and a reminder to parents of the ways our children watch our actions. These are on my list as possibilities for First Daughter to read in first grade. (purchased used on Cathswap)

The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill was written in the 1970s, telling of a white girl befriended by a black boy who go on together to build a successful toothpaste company. First Son will be reading it next year in his financial literacy studies and I think he'll enjoy it. It's a good book of entrepreneurship, friendship, math in real life, self-sufficiency, good corporate citizenship, and racial issues. It is surprisingly not too preachy but honestly fun. Definitely recommended. (library copy)

Something Beautiful for God: The Classic Account of Mother Teresa's Journey into Compassion by Malcom Muggeridge (purchased copy)

Deadweather and Sunrise: The Chronicles of Egg #1 by Geoff Rodkey is full of adventure and unexpected twists. I liked the main character, though I did not like how his family treated him. I think it's an intriguing beginning to a new trilogy for young readers and am excited for the next two. First Son could read this book, but now he's interested in the Redwall series so it's not clear I'll need to provide any leisure time reading for a while. There is one disturbing episode in which some pirates attempt to force themselves on a young woman which I worried would bother First Son, but Kansas Dad thinks he wouldn't really understand it and would just move on. I'm going to put this on our list for next summer (when he'll be ten), just in case I need to make some suggestions. (library copy)

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is as beautifully written as any Bradbury. And very creepy. (library copy)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• The Mass and the Saints (April 2013)
• Lorna Doone by Richard Blackmore (May 2013)
• The Catholic Mother's Helper in Training Her Children by Sister Mary, I.H.M, Sister Mary Roberta, O.P., Sister Mary Rosary, O.P. (June 2013)
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (July 2013)
• St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe (July 2013)

Book Review: Theras and His Town

Theras and His Town
by Caroline Dale Snedeker

This book is recommended in the Connecting with History program (affiliate link) and as possible additional reading on Ancient Greece at Mater Amabilis for Level 2, so I decided to purchase it even though the cover was not enticing. I am so glad I did!

Theras is a young Athenian. The book begins on his first day of school and follows him and his family through a few years of life in Athens before tragedy strikes and he is forced to move to Sparta. Eventually, he journeys home again through adversity and danger. It's a wonderful story of courage, perseverance, loyalty, and friendship that manages to convey a lot of information on Athens and Sparta as well as the geography, culture, daily life, and achievements of Ancient Greece. In short, it's nearly everything good historical fiction should be.

I intend to ask First Son to read this independently next year, but it would be appropriate as a read-aloud story for all ages.

This review is my honest opinion. I purchased my copy of this book at Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (not an affiliate link). It is also available at RC History (an affiliate link).

My Favorite Picture Books: The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

This book is Mr. Pinkney's wordless, but not soundless, story of Aesop's fable in which a lion has compassion on a mouse and is saved by her in return. I have come to love Mr. Pinkney's illustrations. The ones in this book are particularly warm and vibrant.

My children are familiar with Aesop's tale and I like to let them narrate this book themselves. There is something new to discover each time we check this book out from the library. We've used it when reading Aesop's fables, when reading about Ancient Greece and, most recently, when reading stories of compassion.

I like to read aloud the author's note at the end of the story; it is a wonderful insight into the thoughts of authors and illustrators as they are envisioning a story and how it will be read and enjoyed by the audience.